Same Sex Legal Kit For Dummies - Softcover

Stone, Carrie; Culhane, John G.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1118395212 ISBN 13: 9781118395219

Publisher: For Dummies, 2012

Synopsis

Grasp the latest legal information for gay and lesbian couples

Same-sex relationships are treated differently under each state's laws, and nearly a quarter of the U.S. population lives in a state with some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples.

Same Sex Legal Kit For Dummies is a practical, plain-English guide to the legal information and guidance lesbian and gay couples need—from making practical decisions about living together and obtaining domestic partner benefits, to making medical decisions, taking care of each other's finances when one partner is incapacitated, leaving property to each other, having and raising children, and much more.

• Discusses power of attorney, health directives, and real estate and personal property ownership
• Covers considerations for bank accounts, investments, and estate planning
• The book's accompanying CD-ROM includes dozens of helpful tools, forms, and letters
• Brings you up to speed on the latest in civil unions, workplace rights, rental agreements and leases, and much more

The information contained in Same Sex Legal Kit For Dummies is invaluable for anyone in a same-sex relationship who needs to grasp the laws and regulations that apply to their unique situation

CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.

About this title

About the Author

Carrie Stone, along with her life partner, co-owns and operates Rainbow Law, an online legal information and document preparation resource for the LGBT community.

John G. Culhane is a Professor of Law and the Director of the Health Law Institute at Widener University School of Law.

From the Back Cover

Learn to:

• Get up to speed about essential advance directive documents, such as a power of attorney and living will
• Understand how each state's laws treat same-sex relationships
• Create essential estate planning documents, such as a will and living revocable trust

CD includes helpful tools, forms, and sample legal documents

A practical guide to LGBT legal issues and how to protect yourself, your partner, and your family

Same-Sex Legal Kit For Dummies is a practical, plain-English guide to the legal information and guidance LGBT people, whether single or coupled, need — from making decisions about protecting your families to making medical decisions, taking care of finances when one partner is incapacitated, leaving property to loved ones, having and raising children, and much more.

• Understanding the marriage debate — figure out what marriage really means and arm yourself with the legal information you need to protect your rights in a same-sex relationship
• The daily grind — consider money issues (like merging or keeping finances separate) and make informed decisions about everyday issues families face
• Yours, mine, and ours — get the scoop on wills and trusts, and why the living revocable trust is such an important estate planning tool for you and your partner

CD Includes

Dozens of helpful forms and letters to assist you in drafting important legal documents, such as a durable power of attorney, living will, living-together agreement, parenting agreement, and much more.

Please see CD appendix for complete system requirements.

Open the book and find:

• A plain-English explanation of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
• Guidance on facing discrimination
• The ins and outs of artificial insemination, adoption, and surrogacy
• Advice on joining assets and starting a family
• Tax issues for same-sex couples
• The 4-1-1 on immigration concerns for LGBT folks
• How to deal with personal injury and the death of your partner
• What LGBT soldiers need to know about the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Edition details

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1118395212
• ISBN 13: 9781118395219
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 384